The Queen requested a poverty grant to help heat her palaces, but was refused because government ministers feared it would cause a public relations backlash, it was reported today.

In an effort to cut the royal household's soaring electricity and gas bills, a senior aide wrote to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2004 to ask if the Queen would be eligible for a handout from a £60m energy-saving fund.

The cost of utilities doubled in 2004 and the aide said the £1m bill for the royal palaces was "untenable". He also complained that the £15m government grant to maintain the Queen's palaces was inadequate.

In an email sent to the palace, it was explained that the handouts were aimed at schools, hospitals, councils and housing associations for heating programmes that benefited low-income families.

The official also expressed concern that if Buckingham Palace was given money from the fund it would lead to "probable adverse press coverage".

"I think this is where the Community Energy Funding is directed and ties in with most allocations going to community heating schemes run by local authorities, housing associations, universities etc," the email said.

"I also feel a bit uneasy about the probable adverse press coverage if the palace were given a grant at the expense of say a hospital. Sorry this doesn't sound more positive."

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman declined to comment on the disclosures.